Replace half my board with a Zoom B3N?

[scottfeldstein]

I have historically not been a fan of multi-effect pedals. Then a while back I got a Zoom MS-60B to put in front of my Hartke kickback combo for tight spaces and/or quick on/off stage scenarios. I just used the built in tuner, a comp and a SansAmp emulator and...I was pretty pleased with it.

My post-pandemic board is a mess. Probably because I haven't had a steady gig since 2020. But I got one now, so...I have to have a functioning rig. I picked up a used Zoom B3N a couple of weeks ago and I'm just getting around to learning how it works. I have four patches dialed in now:

1. Slap: compressor and a smiley EQ.
2. Finger: comp and a bass driver DI emulator for a little warm ampy grit
3. Fuzz: comp and a distortion pedal (I forget which) for face-melting distortion
4. Synth: just a fun synth pedal, no compf

Now I'm thinking... what if I built my board with
Strobostomp HD tuner > Empress comp > HPF > Zoom B3N > amp?

That would mean sidelining my YYZ, my Aftershock, and a bunch of other pedals that I have either used on the board or at least evaluated recently. And I could remove all the compressors out of my patches.

Am I nuts? The B3N patches sound great in my headphones. Maybe I need to hear it out of an amp before deciding.

 

[InkCow]

TBH, when the MS-60B+ comes out, there’s a good possibility that it will basically replace my current board.

 

[scottfeldstein]

TBH, when the MS-60B+ comes out, there’s a good possibility that it will basically replace my current board.

Hm. I hadn't heard of it. But that form factor doesn't come with enough foot switches for me. My MS-60B is only for really fly rig gigs when I need to run battery powered and have everything set it and forget it. One sound. My B3N, on the other hand, could be a full board replacement. Or at least half the board. I'm not inclined to give up my great tuner, HPF and compressor just yet. The rest of it, maybe.

 

[InkCow]

I have an M-Vave Chocolate if I need more footswitches.